I’ve been listening to some audio speaker tips from Darren LaCroix, former world champion speaker, and there seems to be a very consistent message coming through in all of his audio tips on public speaking. That consistent message is – Get a Coach!
Not just someone who’s a little better than you, but someone who really knows their stuff. The reason for this is, if you’re learning from someone who’s just ahead of you, you’ll pick up all their bad habbits and have to try really hard later on to un-learn them.
Of course Darren is promoting himself and his high fee colleagues but I think the advice is good. When you learn to drive you’ll take lessons from an advanced driver and not someone that just passed their driving test. The reason is that the advanced drivers have a bunch of great experience behind them and can steer you away from the bad habbits before you’ve learned them.
The same goes for public speaking, someone who can command an audience and the stage is far more likely to know how to get you to that point in your speaking journey.
When I’m giving a speech at our club I always like it best when I’m being assessed by a really advanced speaker. They’re usually more practiced at giving the feedback and always a little more critical in their observations. Although I do get uncomfortable about the critisism, I sort of enjoy it too as it helps me to become a better speaker and to hone my overall perfromance in front of an audience.
This is what Toastmasters and Brighton and Hove Speakers Club is all about, creating better speakers and leaders. Each of our meetings is like a group coaching session where every speaker gets positive and supportive feedback on their prepared speeches with everyone getting a chance to speak at the meeting. Even if it just to introduce themselves. After all, we have to start somewhere and just getting up and saying your name for some is a real challenge.
Getting Coaching to improve your public speaking skills is an excellent way to improve your speaking and presentation performance, which in turn will add to and improve your leadership qualities.
